Tool-less backplane retention for computer hardware

ABSTRACT

An apparatus is provided and includes a housing, including a housing mating device, through which an installation path for an assembly is defined with a space in which a first part is positioned, a backplane body having opposing faces on which a second part and a backplane mating device are respectively disposed, and a hub, in which a hub mating device is defined, and from which a two-stage mating device extends, the two-stage mating device including first and second elastically coupled stages. The hub and the backplane body are coupled to form the assembly and the assembly is installed/removed in/from the space with the second stage of the two-stage mating device elastically hooked by the housing mating device or released from the housing mating device and the first and second stages of the two-stage mating device biasing the hub and the backplane body to remain coupled.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims the benefit of priority to U.S.application Ser. No. 12/238,728, which was filed on Sep. 26, 2008. Theentire contents of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/238,728 are incorporatedherein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Aspects of the present invention are directed to a method and anapparatus to provide for tool-less backplane retention.

Generally, computers include hard disk drives, card assemblies and/orother similar electronic components that are installed within respectiveinstallation outlets within the computer hardware. These hard diskdrives and card assemblies are typically formed of internal components,such as electronic devices, and external structures that give the harddisk drives and card assemblies their respective forms and through whichthe internal components communicate with the computers into which theyare installed.

It has been seen that the external structures of the hard disk drivesand the card assemblies are usually formed of sub-structures that arenot easily manipulated and serviced. In fact, specialized tools andknowledge are almost always necessary for even basic repairs.Unfortunately, it has been seen that servicing of external structures ofhard disk drives and card assemblies is frequently required and, as aresult, the specialized tools and knowledge for repairs are alsofrequently required and, very often, not available.

SUMMARY

In accordance with an aspect of the invention, an apparatus is providedand includes a housing, including a housing mating device, through whichan installation path for an assembly is defined with a space in which afirst part is positioned, a backplane body having opposing faces onwhich a second part and a backplane mating device are respectivelydisposed, and a hub, in which a hub mating device is defined, and fromwhich a two-stage mating device extends, the two-stage mating deviceincluding first and second elastically coupled stages, wherein the huband the backplane body are coupled to form the assembly with the hubmating device receptive of the backplane mating device and the firststage of the two-stage mating device elastically hooked onto thebackplane body, and, the assembly is installed in and removed from thespace with the second stage of the two-stage mating device elasticallyhooked by the housing mating device and the first and second partsabutting one another, or with the second stage of the two-stage matingdevice released from the housing mating device and the first and secondstages of the two-stage mating device biasing the hub and the backplanebody to remain coupled.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a handle apparatusto provide for tool-less backplane retention of an assembly forinsertion into a housing is provided and includes a hub, a hub matingdevice defined within a central portion of the hub, and a two-stagemating device, including first and second elastically coupled stages,extending from the hub, the first stage being cooperatively paired withthe hub mating device to couple the hub to a backplane mating device anda backplane body, respectively, to form the assembly and the secondstage being configured to engage a housing mating device during theinsertion of the assembly into the housing to retain the assemblytherein, wherein the coupling of the first and second stages biases thehub to remain coupled to the backplane body in response to forces on thehub directed toward and/or away from the backplane body.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method of formingan assembly, providing tool-less backplane retention, for insertionthereof into a housing is provided and includes coupling a hub and abackplane body by inserting a backplane mating device, which protrudesfrom a face of the backplane body, through a hub mating device, which isdefined in the hub, and, during a near-completion of the insertion ofthe backplane mating device through the hub mating device, forcing afirst stage of a two-stage mating device, which extends from the hub, toelastically hook onto the backplane body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter regarded as the invention is particularly pointed outand distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of thespecification. The foregoing and other aspects, features, and advantagesof the invention are apparent from the following detailed descriptiontaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of components of an exemplary apparatusaccording to embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 1B is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of an exemplarytwo-stage mating device according to embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a disassembled exemplary assemblyaccording to embodiments of the invention;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are isometric views of the exemplary assembly of FIG. 2;and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of components of an exemplaryapparatus according to embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to FIGS. 1-4, an apparatus 1 provides for tool-lessbackplane retention for use in various hardware applications, including,e.g., a hard disk drive (HDD) or a card assembly or some other similarcomponent. The apparatus 1 allows for tool-less service, assembly anddisassembly thereof, provides for a lift-point for the disassemblythereof, can be implemented across multiple systems.

The apparatus 1 includes a housing 10 that incorporates externalstructures of, e.g., a hard disk drive, a card assembly and/or othersimilar components. In that capacity, the housing 10 includes a housingmating device 15 and has an installation path 11 defined therein. Anassembly 25 (to be discussed below) is installed into the housing 10 bybeing inserted therein along the installation path 11. The installationpath 11 has a space 13 (e.g., an installation space having a size andshape that generally corresponds to that of the assembly 25) in which afirst part 20 is positioned. The first part 20 may include a connectorfor a hard disk, a memory card or a similar electronic component.

In accordance with embodiments of the invention, the housing matingdevice 15 may include a tab disposed near an entrance to theinstallation path 11 and/or proximate the space 13. The housing matingdevice 15 may be attached to the housing 10 by way of a fastener or maybe integrally built into the housing 10. In addition, the housing matingdevice may be formed of materials which elastically respond to theapplication of external forces.

The installation path 11 follows a generally inwardly directed curvingpathway that extends into the interior of the housing 10. The space 13is defined along the installation path 11 and, in an embodiment of theinvention, at an end of the installation path 11. One or more guides 12may be provided along the installation path 11 to facilitateinstallations of the assembly 25 or other similar components into thespace 13.

The apparatus further includes a backplane body 30. The backplane body30 may be optionally formed of, at least, sheet metal and includes firstand second opposing faces 31 and 32 which are substantially flat and maybe rectangular or otherwise shaped in correspondence with a shape of thespace 13. A backplane mating device 40 is disposed on and protrudes fromthe first face 31. A second part 33 is disposed on the second face 32.The second part 33 is configured to be coupled to and in signalcommunication with the first part 20 of the housing 10 when the assembly25 is installed therein.

In accordance with embodiments of the invention, the backplane matingdevice 40 may include an extended member, such as a post, which isintegrally connected to or otherwise attached to the first face 31. Thebackplane mating device 40 may extend away from the first face 31 in asubstantially normal direction with respect to a plane of the first face31. A length of the backplane mating device 40 may be varied but shouldnot exceed a distance between the first face 31 and a sidewall of thehousing 10 when the assembly 25 is installed in the housing 10.

A handle 35 is configured to be coupled to the backplane body 30 tothereby form the assembly 25 which is to be inserted into the space 13of the housing 10. The handle 35 includes a hub 36 which generallycomprises a solid rigid bulkhead. A hub mating device 45 is defined in acentral portion of the hub 36. A two-stage mating device 37, whichincludes a first stage thereof 38 and a second stage thereof 39, and amanipulating portion 60 each extend in substantially transversedirections from upper portions of the hub 36.

The manipulating portion 60 may include a curved flange that extendsaway from the hub 36 in a direction that mimics the curvature of theinstallation path 11. With this configuration, the manipulating portion60 allows an operator of the handle 35 to maintain control of theassembly 25 during the installation thereof into the housing 10. Ofcourse, it is understood that the shape of the curved flange of themanipulating portion 60 is, in fact, independent of and need not mimicthe curvature of the installation path 11. In addition, in accordancewith embodiments of the invention, the extension direction of themanipulating portion 60 away from the hub 36 may be transverse to thedirection by which the two-stage mating device 37 extends away from thehub 36. In accordance with further embodiments of the invention, the hub36, the two-stage mating device 37 and the manipulating portion 60 maybe provided substantially symmetrically about a center-line of thehandle 35.

Where the backplane mating device 40 includes an extended memberprotruding from the first face 31, the hub mating device 45 includes aportion of the hub 36 in which a through-hole 46 is defined. Here, asthe hub 35 is brought toward the backplane body 30, the through-hole 46of the hub mating device 45 receives the backplane mating device 40 in asliding engagement. This sliding engagement continues as the hub 35 iscontinually brought toward the backplane body 30 until a first stage 38of the two-stage mating device 37 contacts an edge of the backplane body30. It is noted that, while the hub mating device 45 and the backplanemating device 40 are described as female and male mating devices,respectively, embodiments of the invention exist in which the oppositearrangement is provided.

In accordance with embodiments of the invention, the first and secondstages 38 and 39 of the two-stage mating device 37 include spring arm 51and rigid arm 50, respectively. Each of the rigid arm 50 and the springarm 51 further includes first and second distal mating portions 52 and53, respectively. The rigid arm 50 and the spring arm 51 may beintegrally coupled to one another and to the hub 36 and respectivelyformed of rigid and elastic materials. As such, the rigid arm 50 and thespring arm 51 are effectively elastically coupled to one another, withthe rigid arm 50 providing stability, and to the hub 36 proximate torespective midpoints thereof such that the rigid arm 50 and the springarm 51 are substantially symmetrically disposed with respect to the hub36. Here, the housing mating device 15 includes two housing matingdevices 15 which are disposed on the housing 10 at locationscorresponding to the locations of the first and second distal matingportions 53 of the rigid arm 50 of the second stage 39.

The first and second distal mating portions 52 of the spring arm 51 ofthe first stage 38 may include a forward contacting surface 71 thatcomes into contact with an overhanging flange 75, which is located atthe edge of the backplane body 30, as the hub 36 is brought into contactwith the backplane body 30. As the hub 36 and the backplane body 30continue to approach one another, the flange 75 causes the spring arm 51to elastically deform until the flange 75 clears the forward contactingsurface 71. At this point, the elasticity of the spring arm 51 causesthe distal portion 52 to spring past the flange 75 and into positionsuch that the locking surface 72 abuts an underside of the flange 75.Here, the engagement of the hub mounting device 45 with the backplanemating device 40 and the engagement of the first stage 38 of thetwo-stage mating device 37 and the flange 78 of the backplane body 30cooperatively couple the hub 36 to the backplane body 30 to thereby formthe assembly 25.

Conversely, as the assembly 25 is installed within the space 13 of thehousing 10, a forward contacting surface 73 of the first and seconddistal mating portions 53 of the rigid arm 50 of the second stage 39comes into contact with a flange 16 of the housing mating device 15. Asthe installation of the assembly 25 proceeds, the flange 16 and therigidity of the rigid arm 50 cooperatively cause the spring arm 51 toelastically deform until the flange 16 clears the forward contactingsurface 73. At this point, the elasticity of the spring arm 51 allowsfor a procession of the distal portion 53 past the flange 16 and intoposition such that the locking surface 74 abuts an underside of theflange 16.

During the installation of the assembly 25 into the housing 10, theelastic deformation of the spring arm 51 by the rigid arm 50 and theflange 16 increases the biasing of the spring arm 51 toward thebackplane body 30. That is, due to the coupling of the rigid arm 50 andthe spring arm 51, the force applied to the distal portion 53 by theflange 16 is transmitted by the rigid arm 50 to the spring arm 51. Thistransmitted force causes the spring arm 51 to bias the first stage 38 ofthe two-stage mating device 37 against the backplane body 30 in thedirection of the hub 36.

In greater detail, with the assembly 25 formed as discussed herein, thecoupling of the first and second stages 38 and 39 of the two-stagemating device 37 to one another and to the hub 36 provide for a biasingof the hub 36 and the backplane body 30 to remain coupled to one anothergenerally and in response to a force on the hub 36, which is directedtoward/away from the backplane body 30. As shown in FIG. 4, a forceF_(X) is exerted onto the manipulating portion 60 in a directionpointing away from the hub 36. As a result, the integral coupling of thehub 36 to the first spring arm 51 generates a companion force F₅₁ thatbiases the backplane body 30 toward the hub 36. In a similar fashion,where a force F₁₅ is exerted onto the distal mating portion 53 of therigid arm 50 of the second stage 39, the integral coupling of the rigidarm 50 and the spring arm 51 also provides for the generation of thecompanion force F₅₁.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a handle apparatus 1to provide for tool-less backplane retention of an assembly 25 forinsertion into a housing 10 is provided. The handle apparatus includes ahub 36, a hub mating device 45 defined within a central portion of thehub 36, and a two-stage mating device 37. The two-stage mating device37, as discussed above, includes first and second elastically coupledstages 38 and 39, extending from the hub 36. The first stage 38 iscooperatively paired with the hub mating device 45 to couple the hub 36to a backplane mating device 40 and a backplane body 30, respectively,to form the assembly 25. The second stage 39 is configured to engage ahousing mating device 15 during the insertion of the assembly 25 intothe housing 10 to retain the assembly 25 therein. Here, the coupling ofthe first and second stages 38 and 39 biases the hub 36 to remaincoupled to the backplane body 30 in response to forces on the hub 36directed toward and/or away from the backplane body 30.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method of formingan assembly, providing for tool-less backplane retention, for insertionthereof into a housing, is provided and includes coupling a hub and abackplane body by inserting a backplane mating device, which protrudesfrom a face of the backplane body, through a hub mating device, which isdefined in the hub, and, during a near-completion of the insertion ofthe backplane mating device through the hub mating device, forcing afirst stage of a two-stage mating device, which extends from the hub, toelastically hook onto the backplane body.

The method may further include installing or removing the assembly in orfrom the housing. In addition, the installing and the removing eachgenerate forces on a second stage of the two-stage mating device, whichis elastically coupled to the first stage, such that the hub is biasedto remain coupled to the backplane body.

While the disclosure has been described with reference to exemplaryembodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatvarious changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted forelements thereof without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Inaddition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situationor material to the teachings of the disclosure without departing fromthe essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that thedisclosure not be limited to the particular exemplary embodimentdisclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out thisdisclosure, but that the disclosure will include all embodiments fallingwithin the scope of the appended claims.

1. A method of forming an assembly, providing for tool-less backplaneretention, for insertion thereof into a housing, the method comprising:coupling a hub and a backplane body by inserting a backplane matingdevice, which protrudes from a face of the backplane body, through a hubmating device, which is defined in the hub, and, during anear-completion of the insertion of the backplane mating device throughthe hub mating device, forcing a first stage of a two-stage matingdevice, which extends from the hub, to elastically hook onto thebackplane body.
 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprisinginstalling or removing the assembly in or from the housing.
 3. Themethod according to claim 2, wherein the installing and the removingeach generate forces on a second stage of the two-stage mating device,which is elastically coupled to the first stage, such that the hub isbiased to remain coupled to the backplane body.
 4. A method of formingan assembly for tool-less backplane retention and for insertion into ahousing, the method comprising: inserting a backplane mating device,which protrudes from a face of a backplane body, through a hub matingdevice, which is defined in a hub; and forcing a first stage of atwo-stage mating device, which extends from the hub, to elastically hookonto the backplane body during a near-completion of the insertion of thebackplane mating device through the hub mating device.